Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-04-07
ARBOR DAY.
Suggestions For It's Observance by Hon. w.
e. Coleman, State Superintendent of Ed

Suggestions For It's Observance by Hon. w.
e. Coleman, State superintendent of Ed
ducation. t
By an agreement between the Governor and
State Superintendent of Public Schools the
18th day of April, 1887, has been selected and
set apart as Arbor Day for the State of Mis-
souri,, and it is the desire Of this department to
secure the cooperation Of the teachers, the
children, and the patrons, in an effort to adorn
and beautify their school grounds by assem-
bl ng on that day at their various school sites
and devoting a few hours to the work of tree
planting One year ago many districts observed
the day, and the wisdom of their 1abors is now
manifest, as many nice groves growing up
on sites that were bare prior to the observance
OF the first Arbor Day appointed in Missouri,
lieving all can understand and appreciate the
benefits to be derived from such movement
plan of procedure is here outlined for those
who desire to encourage the enterprise and
assist in its execution, VIZ:
l. Select the trees to be planted. dig them
several days beforehand so as to have them
ready: wrap the roots with wet straw or leaves
to keep the roots moist bind nicely with
cord. and bury the roots in moist place and
let them remain until you are ready to set them
in place.
inch to two inches In diameter; trim them up
seven feet high, and top them at that height; II
any limbs are left on the trees, these should be
clipped eight or ten inches from the trunk.
3. The best trees to select are the following,
in the order named: Linn, ash, boxelder, elm,
hard maple, sycamore, pecan, walnut, soft ma
q. Call the meeting to order promptly at l 30
p. m, April IS, and devote one hour to Lit
erary Exercises" which may consist of decla-
nations, orations, essays, poems, historical
sketches of noted trees mentioned in connec-
ton with Nations history. Each exercise
should have direct reference to the work In
hand. If the school is not in session, call a
meeting about the first of April, at the school
house and appoint committee to arrange
programme for the occasion.
). Select some suitable person as foreman;
eral oversight in the planting Of the trees. A
space should be left at center or each side OF
grounds Plant the trees about eight feet from
the fence, and do not put them nearer the house
than twenty feet distant.
6. After the planting has been completed the
trees should be protected by something to keep
the stock off, if the site is not fenced. Place
straw, leaves or trash around the trees to keep
them moist about the roots during the coming
summer
Z. School teacher or district clerk will please
notify the county commissioner what was done
on this day, especially the number Of trees
planted, my next annual report will en-
cody this item and they are the only parties
who can furnish the desired information
8. If the school grounds are not inclosed by
fence an effort should be made to have the an.
nual meeting provide for the same by giving
due notice and voting levy for that purpose.
Hoping that all may aid in this movement
and thereny improve the appearance of the
houses and grounds used for educational pur-
poses throughout State, 1 remain, most
respectfully, your obedient servant,
w. E. COLEMAN.